Samsung Galaxy S4 Needs to Be More Successful than the Galaxy S3

Editorial: What the Samsung Galaxy S4 Needs to Be More Successful than the Galaxy S3

By now, we all know that the Galaxy S3 has been a very successful device for Samsung. Probably more successful than the Galaxy S and S2 sales combined. Of course a major part of that was having the exact same device released on all the carriers within weeks of each other. In the past, each carrier has had their own Galaxy S device with their own name. Sprint was the Epic, AT&T was the Captivate and Skyrocket, T-Mobile was the Vibrant, and Verizon had the Fascinate and didn’t get a Galaxy S2 device. In 2012 Samsung changed that, and launched the Galaxy S3 as that, the Galaxy S3 on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, Verizon and US Cellular in the span of about 6 weeks. But how can Samsung improve on the Galaxy S3 for 2013?

Bigger Battery

If you’ve watched any of our podcasts, you know the first thing I look at for a new device is the battery size. Since I’m almost never at home and always out where I can’t charge my device, having a huge battery is something I need. And it needs to last a while when it’s connected to 3G/HSPA+/4G data. The Galaxy S3 has a 2100mAh battery, which on my T-Mobile Galaxy S3 will last about 8-10 hours, depending on how much it gets used. So it’s not terrible battery life, but I do have a 4400mAh battery for the S3 and that thing lasts for a couple of days now. We already know Samsung likes to tweak everything with Touchwiz, which is fine it’s actually really good on battery, but we still need a bigger battery. At least 3000mAh, especially if the screen is going to be bigger.

Larger Display, Smaller Bezels

We’ve seen Motorola’s new Droid Razr M and Razr i (Europe) with those very tiny bezel’s right? We need to see that from Samsung in 2013. Especially if they want to make the Galaxy S4 larger than the S3. They also need to find a happy medium between the Galaxy S3′s size and the Note 2′s size, unless they are going to merge the two lineups together in 2013, which according to the latest rumor, might actually happen. But if they keep the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note lineups seperate, I think a 4.9-5.0 inch display is likely what we are going to see in the Galaxy S4.

Android 4.2

Depending on when the Galaxy S4 launches or gets announced (rumors saying April), it’ll need to have Android 4.2 or later on the device. When the Galaxy S3 was announced, it was shortly before Android 4.1 was announced. But it did take a bit to get Jelly Bean onto the Galaxy S3, especially for those of us in the US on carriers such as AT&T and Verizon. If the Galaxy S4 launches with Android 4.1 on board, it may become a turn off to the millions of people that will buy the device as soon as its available.

Storage

No more of this 16GB stuff. Of course we know Samsung will give us a micro SD card slot. But you can’t install all your apps on your SD card, only pictures, music, misc., etc. So the default options for a flagship Galaxy S4 in 2013 needs to be 32GB and 64GB versions. Maybe make the 16GB version available for $99 on-contract, 32GB for $199 and 64GB for $299. That way Samsung can hit all price points with the Galaxy S4.

Final Thoughts

Honestly, I can’t wait until the Galaxy S4 comes out. I’ve loved my Galaxy S3 and love all the developer support behind it. I have complete faith that Samsung will blow us away again in April/May when the Galaxy S4 is announced. Hopefully Samsung will take the Galaxy S3 as a base and just improve on it. I haven’t had many problems with my Galaxy S3, but of course there can be some improvements. There are always room for improvements. I just don’t want Samsung to be like Apple, and release a new device with a bunch of minor upgrades. Kinda like HTC with their One X+ upgrade for the One X. Not much of an upgrade their.

What are you looking forward to in the Galaxy S4? Let us know in the comments below.